Lolo wants Immigration Board stipends paid ASAP

Due to the diligent work of the Immigration Board members in addressing the backlog of cases, Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga is moving to have stipends paid to them.

Lolo's action follows a legal opinion from the Attorney General on a way to compensate the Board utilizing the Administrative Procedures Act.

In his letter to AG Afoa L. Sue’su’e Lutu, the governor thanked him for the legal opinion and requested that he prepare the necessary legal documents to forge the implementation of this matter.

“Based on your recommendation, I am requesting implementation of the suggestion of utilizing our Administrative Procedure Avenue to facilitate implementation of the decision to pay stipends for the immigration board members, " Lolo wrote.

"Given the additional demands that will be placed on the Immigration Board caused by the implementation of our Amnesty program, it is imperative that we promptly expedite the payment of stipends to the Immigration Board members.”

The governor urged Afoa to act upon this right away.

“I don’t know the length of the inherent process associated with pursuing the Administrative Procedure Process but I would appreciate it very much if we could commence the payment of stipends to the immigration board as soon as possible,” said Lolo.

The Governor’s Executive Assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira said the source of funding is being identified and until such funding is found, payment of stipends will be suspended. “If a stipend is paid, it will not exceed the stipend standards prevailing in the other Boards and Commissions,” he stated.

“The Immigration Board is working diligently to address the backlog of cases for which bonds have been paid but the required hearings have not been held,” Iu noted.